I read Matthew 13:44-46 in a whole new light the other day. It's the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl, and it reads:
44 The Kingdom of God is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45 Again, the Kingdom of God is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had, and bought it.
I've always just read these two parables as basically saying the same thing two different ways. We're to pursue God and give everything for Him like a man who found a treasure in a field. We're to seek God and give everything for Him like a merchant who's found a precious and valuable pearl.
God has recently been teaching me about our relationship with Him as represented by the Bride and the Bridegroom. The great romance. God seeking us, cherishing us, pursuing us, loving us passionately, and our response: seeking Him, cherishing Him, pursuing Him, loving Him passionately. It's a big love story. We both just throw ourselves into each other's arms. The love is tangible.
So when I read these parables again, I noticed something I had never noticed before. Verse 44 compares the Kingdom of God to the treasure. This implies, in the context of the parable, that we are to pursue God like a man who finds the treasure in the field and gives everything to get it. But verse 45 compares the Kingdom of God to the merchant. Do you understand what this means? It means He's the merchant who found us, the pearl of great worth, and gave everything to get us!! Just like we seek Him with everything, He seeks us with everything!
My heart can hardly bear the weight of this. He finds me to be a fine pearl of great worth! It's all a big love story! The church, madly in love with God, and God, madly in love with His church, His bride.
No comments:
Post a Comment